In high school, we’re taught Trojans (of the latex
variety) are our best friends. But once you begin the four- or
five-year journey of being a Bruin, the rhetoric reverses. The word
Trojan becomes synonymous with evil, and we’re programmed to
shudder at the sight of crimson and gold.
We shake our keys at the opposite team, ban red from our
wardrobes, and chant, “second choice!” at those across
the field.
But, even with the impending game-day battle, should we exclude
our crosstown rivals from our dating pool?
While dating may be a sport, full of passes, no-shows and
upsetting performances, Bruins have a better chance of doing the
victory dance in the bedroom than on the field.
There are a few obstacles a crosstown union could face, but
Bruins can tackle anything ““ as long as it doesn’t
require physical agility.
The first problem deals with outward appearance, something
Trojans are notoriously concerned with.
For example, second-year math and economics student Srijaya
Bearelly has been dating a Trojan since she and her boyfriend were
high school sweethearts. Bearelly says she only feels uncomfortable
when her boy’s friends come to UCLA in ‘SC gear, but
the couple knows better. Her boyfriend wears a UCLA sweatshirt when
in Westwood and she dons a “FUCLA” tee when visiting
him.
Admittedly, it’s most difficult to have a Trojan
sweetheart when the big game is in sight. But Josh Silverstein, a
2004 Bruin alumnus who was in a serious relationship with a Trojan
all four years of college, says UCLA’s poor football record
can help ease seasonal tensions.
“Melissa’s the more competitive one. I took it like
a man and made it work. Had things gone better for UCLA, there
might have been problems.”
When you consider that most Trojans resent blue and gold because
they weren’t awarded the privilege of being a Bruin, a
winning football team is just a consolation prize for paying more
for a degree that ultimately isn’t worth as much.
Kiersten Fletcher, a second-year pre-business economics student,
says her Trojan man is a hypocrite who applied to UCLA,
didn’t get in, and now disses on the Bruins.
Even UCLA tour guides, brimming with spirit, admit they could be
seduced by someone from the other side of town.
“It’d be nice to be spoiled by an ‘SC guy, to
be wined and dined,” said Heather Taylor, a fourth-year
psychobiology student.
While the crosstown tension will peak at the Rose Bowl this
Saturday, once off the field and out of the stands, the rivalry is
often as thin as the T-shirts that illustrate it.
School allegiance can be erased as quickly as you can
seductively say, “Take off that red shirt.” You
don’t even need to make up your own pick-up lines ““ but
Bruin wit could win that face-off any day.
Bonos is the 2004-2005 managing editor. E-mail her at
lbonos@media.ucla.edu if you’d like to be the next Bruin of
Troy.